We spent most of the first ten chapters with the Original Four from FNaF 1. We've spent the past five chapters with the Funtime Animatronics. Now, we spend time with The Puppet. Time to assemble The Puppet's party!
Enjoy.
A few hours after a rough meeting with the Phantom Animatronics, The Puppet is called by Helpy back to Circus Baby's Pizza World. Golden Freddy came with her after what she heard about the call. Apparently, Circus Baby and her friends have returned from their mission. Unfortunately, the Original Four were not with them, which worries The Puppet. Golden Freddy, on the other hand, just becomes more suspicious of Circus Baby. The leader of the Funtime Animatronics appears nonchalant, for some odd reason.
"Are you sure you didn't find anything?" asked The Puppet.
"We found a secret section in the mines underneath The Scrapyard," said Baby. "There were booby traps. We survived them, but there was a bigger problem. A door. A door that needs a code."
"And you didn't try to just randomly punch in whatever until it works?" asked Golden Freddy.
"We would've, but there was a penalty after too many failed attempts," said Baby. "Fail three times in a row and the ceiling drops rubble on you. Boulders and heavy metal parts. We had to leave before Springtrap turned us into a pile of shiny scrap."
"We tried shouting through the door, but Springtrap just told us to go away," said Funtime Freddy. "Ooh, that guy really cranks my gears the wrong way. If I ever get my hands on him, I'm gonna..."
"Shh!" Bon-Bon shushed him gently. "It's going to be okay. Just think of the clouds and cotton candy."
Bon-Bon's job is to keep Funtime Freddy calm whenever he gets too wild. While that has yet to happen on the battlefield, Funtime Freddy is closer and closer to going ballistic. Good thing he has Bon-Bon. She always calms him down.
"Did you ask him if he was holding my children hostage?" asked The Puppet.
"He said he isn't, but that could be a lie," said Ballora. "We didn't have time to find out."
"But Springtrap is down there," said Golden Freddy. "Take me there. I'll just teleport right through the door."
"Unless he's prepared for us," The Puppet said worriedly. "So, Circus Baby, are you sure you didn't learn anything? Anything useful at all?"
"I'm afraid all I can give you is Springtrap's location. Good luck trying to get through the door, though," Baby answered.
"We're sorry, Puppet," Ballora apologized.
"But we can make up for it with one promise. We will stand by you in this war! Fazbear Woods and Circus Baby's Pizza World shall fight together for survival!" Funtime Foxy loudly, as usual. His voice box always makes him sound like he's shouting through a megaphone.
"I believe you, but is that true, Circus Baby?" asked The Puppet.
"Just call us and you'll find out," Baby said vaguely.
"I swear, Rose Cheeks, you better not be holding out on us," Golden Freddy threatened. "Otherwise..."
"Otherwise, what?" Baby dared. "Outright physical conflict is a violation of our contract. If you want at least a chance to forge an alliance with us, you might want to watch your words."
Golden Freddy moans angrily as she glares at Circus Baby.
"Well, thank you for help, at least," said The Puppet.
"I just wish we could've been more helpful," said Ballora.
"You know what they say, Puppet. To get things done, do them yourself," said Baby. "You rely so much on your puppets... ahem... children... that you're neglecting part of your self-appointed responsibility."
"Now, hold on a minute here, Baby!" Golden Freddy shouted.
"Okay," The Puppet said calmly.
"Huh?" Golden Freddy reacted.
"I'm going to pay Helpy half the payment, and then I'm gonna go do this myself," said The Puppet.
"Half the payment?" Circus Baby questioned.
"Take it up with him. He's just trying to help everyone," said The Puppet. "Goldie, take us back."
"But, Puppet," Golden Freddy argued.
"Now, Goldie," The Puppet interrupted.
The Puppet puts her hand on Golden Freddy's head and the yellow bear just teleports both of them out of the circus. That leaves Circus Baby and the gang to check on the ongoing repair job on their home. The rest of the Funtime crew are making the repairs extra difficult, but Helpy's management ensures. The main Funtime foursome (plus Bon-Bon) immediately go in to help. Ballora, however, holds Baby back to talk to her.
"You're hiding things from us," Ballora knew.
"And you said I had to make my own choices. I did," said Baby.
"But is what you just did what you wanted?" Ballora questioned.
Baby pulls her arm back from Ballora's grip and walks away. What Ballora doesn't see is the conflicted look on Baby's face, one that she didn't want her mother to see. Not yet.
Back at Fazbear Woods, on top of The Puppet's hill where her music box is, The Puppet is pacing (or floating) back and forth, thinking as she listens to her favorite lullaby. Golden Freddy just sits there and waits for her friend to say something. The golden bear is still angry about leaving the circus without getting more answers from Circus Baby.
"She's hiding something from us," said Golden Freddy.
"No doubt," said The Puppet. "She wasn't lying about Springtrap, but she was holding back something."
"So, what are we waiting for? Let's go to The Scrapyard and rip that murderer a new one," Golden Freddy suggested eagerly.
"Not so fast," said The Puppet. "This isn't just about finding Springtrap. No, there's more to this. As powerful as the two of us are, we could use some help."
"You want to assemble a party?" asked Golden Freddy.
"Yes," The Puppet answered.
"Then why are we still here thinking?" asked Golden Freddy.
"I think we both know that Circus Baby isn't the only one holding back," said The Puppet.
"That's different. She's only ever out for herself. You, on the other hand, you do it because you care," said Golden Freddy. "I mean, you trusted me with your secrets."
"And you're a great friend for that, Goldie," said The Puppet. "But I think it's time for a change in plans."
"Such as?" asked Golden Freddy.
"Springtrap comes second. Our friends come first," said The Puppet. "I know you went to visit my father earlier. I know what you want. That kind of fire, the kind that ignites revenge, it's not what we need right now."
"Don't tell me you don't feel it as well," said Golden Freddy. "I thought your last meeting with Nightmare would ignite that fire in you. You've finally chosen to fight this war, but you're still not going all in."
"I can't be a vengeful spirit anymore, Goldie," said The Puppet. "I'll fight the Nightmares, but I'll do it without corrupting my soul again."
"Just remember, Marionette. Some animatronics won't respond kindly to kindness," said Golden Freddy.
"I know," said The Puppet. "I just need to make sure I know the direction of our next step."
"Which is?" asked Golden Freddy.
"Snow-Dust Mountains," The Puppet answered. "I overheard the Phantoms talking about it when they thought I had already left. Something funny is going on here, and we have to find out what it is."
"So, who are we inviting to our little party?" asked Golden Freddy. "Mangle? JJ? Or are we gonna borrow someone from outside Fazbear Woods?"
"Come with me. There's something I need you to see," said The Puppet.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
As it turns out, there's a secret door at the bottom of The Puppet's hill. It's covered entirely in green grass so it was hard to tell that there was even a door there. The Puppet's music box may be her bed, but it's not her house. It's the hill itself. Inside the hill is a small kitchen, a TV, a computer, and a round wooden table in the center with five chairs.
"You never told me about this," said Golden Freddy.
"Only Helpy knows," said The Puppet. "He helped build it, after all. Plus, I needed it to hide that something I told you about."
In the corner of the room is an animatronic. A black bear with a red hat and a red bow tie. It also has red rosy cheeks and a yellow star on its chest (like that of Rockstar Animatronic). It's slumped over. Lifeless. Its right eye appears to be missing.
"This is Lefty," The Puppet introduced. "My Dad built him with the purpose to track me down and capture me. That's how I ended up in the pizzeria where the last bits of Freddy Fazbear's legacy was burned down."
"So, why is he here?" asked Golden Freddy.
"Because he has no life in him," said The Puppet. "I don't know why, but he came here to Faztopia as a nonfunctional machine. No programming. No directive. Nothing. Just a hollow shell. I had to fix him up myself... after a bit of research on robotics. When the Nightmares started to cause trouble, I had to prepare him just in case. I gave him a fraction of my power. He can fight alongside us. All we need to do is turn him on."
The Puppet picks up the remote on the table and pushes the red button. Lefty's right eye lights up as he starts to twitch. His mouth opens and closes. His arms move up and down. His grip on his microphone tightens.
"Lefty, stand," The Puppet ordered.
Obeying the order, Lefty slowly and clumsily picks himself up. Unlike the more lively animatronics in Faztopia, Lefty moves like an actual robot, from the slow movement to the brief pauses in between each limb movement. Lefty finally stands up on his two feet, but his head is hanging a bit.
"So, Lefty is left-handed?" Golden Freddy questioned. He referred to the black bear holding the mic with his left hand.
"I thought it would fit," said The Puppet. "Okay, stay here with him. I have to get something from my music box."
The Puppet walks out the door and returns to her music box. Golden Freddy just sits there staring at the black bear in front of her. It won't move. It won't speak. It's strange to see an actual lifeless robot in a realm full of aniamtronics with so much life, whether their souls are real or artificial.
"Um, hello?" Golden Freddy greeted awkwardly. "I'm Golden Freddy. Nice to meet you."
"Shhhhh," Lefty responded.
"What was that?" Golden Freddy asked, confused by the response.
"Shhhhh," Lefty shushed again.
"Um, okay. Good talk," Golden Freddy said, weirded out.
"Shhhhh," Lefty replied the same way again.
The Puppet travels to a dark part of Fazbear Woods along with Golden Freddy and Lefty. Seeing Lefty walk is distracting because he walks like an actual robot, which again is weird in a realm where all animatronics move as if they are truly alive. Heck, Lefty even makes robotic sounds when he moves. When the other animatronics move, their internal mechanisms barely make any sounds.
"Uh, Marionette, why are we in the darkest neck of the woods?" asked Golden Freddy.
"Because our next party member likes to hide in the shadows," The Puppet answered.
"Shadows? Wait a minute," Golden Freddy realized.
"We're here! Come on out!" The Puppet called.
Walking out from behind a tree is Shadow Freddy. Golden Freddy prepares herself for a fight, knowing just how hostile the Shadow Animatronic can be. The Puppet, on the other hand, approaches Shadow Freddy rather calmly.
"Be ready to attack when necessary, Lefty," said Golden Freddy.
"Shhhhh," Lefty replied.
Golden Freddy sighs, annoyed. Talking to a robot sucks, she thought. And I'm a robot myself. A boneless one, but at least I'm alive.
"Why did you call me here, Puppet?" asked Shadow Freddy.
"To ask you join us," said The Puppet. "Fight the Nightmare Animatronics with us."
"And what makes you think I will even consider such an idea after you have broken your promise to me?" Shadow Freddy asked angrily.
"I can't feed you with real souls," said The Puppet. "But I can give you something else."
The Puppet takes out a glowing orb of light. It's a soul, except it glowed with the colors of molten lava. It glows like lava. Strangely, it's not as hot as lava, since The Puppet can touch it with her hands.
"Wait, is that..." Golden Freddy dreaded to finish the sentence.
"Springtrap's artificial soul formula? Yes, it is," The Puppet confirmed.
"Whose endoskeleton did you melt down to make that twisted concoction?" asked Golden Freddy.
"Yours," The Puppet answered. "You don't need it, right?"
"I... well... I guess... I guess not," said Golden Freddy.
The Puppet gives the artificial soul to Shadow Freddy. Shadow Freddy pushes the artificial soul into his body, feeding on it. His endoskeleton glows bright red and orange as he lets out a roar. What kind of roar? Anger? Satisfaction? It's hard to tell. The roaring and glowing lasted for 15 seconds. Shadow Freddy says and does nothing for a while, which makes Golden Freddy a bit anxious. How is he going to react?
"Are you okay?" asked Golden Freddy.
"My hunger. It's... it's... it's gone," said Shadow Freddy. "That artificial soul has forever sated my hunger. I no longer crave for souls. I'm cured. I feel... alive."
The Puppet nods happily.
"You have fulfilled your promise, Puppet. As a token of my gratitude, I will fight by your side. This war will be ours to win," said Shadow Freddy.
"Wow. That was easy," Golden Freddy commented.
"Glad to have you with us, Shadow Freddy," said The Puppet. "We are heading to Snow-Dust Mountains right now, actually. Care to join our party?"
"You can count of me," Shadow Freddy answered.
And just like that, Shadow Freddy is part of The Puppet's party. Shadow Freddy approaches the black bear Lefty to greet it and express how pleased he is to fight this war together, unaware that Lefty is a robot who only follows The Puppet's orders. Lefty replies to the purple bear's every word with "shhhhh."
"Did you know that was gonna work?" Golden Freddy whispered to the marionette.
"Kinda," The Puppet answered quietly.
"What do you mean, kinda?" Golden Freddy whisper-shouted.
"Shadow Freddy's hunger was tied to his poor condition. With the artificial soul I created, he is internally rejuvenated," said The Puppet.
"And if that didn't work?" asked Golden Freddy.
The Puppet didn't answer that one. Whatever Plan B was in getting Shadow Freddy to their side, she'd rather keep it to herself, leaving the answer up to Golden Freddy's imagination.
"Wait, why didn't you use the artificial soul on Lefty?" asked Golden Freddy.
"Do you expect me to melt someone else's endoskeleton?" The Puppet questioned. "We don't have time."
Shadow Freddy is still trying to talk to Lefty, who keeps shushing him no matter what he says. It's starting to annoy the shadowy bear. He still hasn't realized that Lefty is a soulless robot.
"Shhhhh," Lefty repeated for the umpteenth time.
"Why does this one-eyed fella wish to silence me?" Shadow Freddy asked, offended by the black bear's shushing.
"Alright, Shadow Freddy. Leave Lefty alone," said The Puppet. "We have to get a move on. War is coming, and who knows what Nightmare has planned next."
Unbeknownst to The Puppet, Nightmare is dead. He is nothing but a lifeless corpse. That corpse is back in the Nightmare Realm, at the graveyard, where all of the Nightmare Animatronics are gathered. They look upon their fallen master. It is an unbelievable sight. Nightmare is supposed to be the most powerful out of all of them, yet here he is. Lying down and not responding to anything. Nightmare Foxy even poked the body, but nothing happened.
"Nightmare lost?" Nightmare BB asked with shock and disbelief.
"To Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy of all animatronics?" Nightmare Bonnie questioned, unable to believe it.
"How is this possible, Nightmarionne?" asked Nightmare Fredbear. "You followed him. You were there. What did they do to our master?"
"That obnoxious rainbow from Rainbow Valley. Its magic is our weakness," Nightmarionne answered. "Fazbear and his friends used it to their advantage."
"If The Puppet finds out, our enemies will be more confident than ever," said Nightmare Freddy.
"Which is why she does not know yet," said Nightmarionne. "Circus Baby knows, but I guarantee she would withhold that information to her benefit."
"What do we do now?" asked Jack-O-Chica. "Who will lead us to battle?"
"It is only logical that his second-in-command will take his place," said Nightmare Fredbear. "And that is..."
"Me," Nightmarionne reminded.
"You? Ha!" Nightmare BB laughed.
Nightmarionne teleports right in front of Nightmare BB's face and unleashes a soul-piercing jumpscare. Nightmare BB falls on his backside and crawls backwards in fear.
"I am the ruler of the Nightmare Realm, and that means this war is mine to dictate!" Nightmarionne bellowed. "But this time, our end goal will be bigger than Nightmare's vision."
"What would that be?" asked Nightmare Chica.
"Tell me. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to transcend? To become more than just a child's nightmare?" Nightmarionne asked.
"Are you suggesting you can make that happen?" asked Nightmare Fredbear.
"Nightmare was powerful, but he lacked imagination," said Nightmarionne. "I offered a way to expand his vision, but he refused to hear me. That is, until in his dying breath."
"What are you saying, you gangling buster?" asked Nightmare Foxy.
"Nightmare had yet to perish when I intervened. I surprised Fazbear and his friends and left them to rot in the frozen mountains," said Nightmarionne. "He was too weak to be saved, so I told him of my own plans. In his final words, he approved."
Nightmarionne is lying, but his fellow Nightmare Animatronics seem to believe every word he is saying. They were curious to know of what Nightmarionne has planned for the war.
"And what are your plans exactly?" asked Nightmare Fredbear.
"To free us from this realm. To take us to the world of the living," Nightmarionne answered. "Just imagine. We no longer have to unleash darkness on the pathetic animatronics of Faztopia. Instead, we will have an entire world to bring to their knees. Their worst nightmares come to life. Their fears, combined with our presence, will forge the new Nightmare Realm."
"That sounds fun," said Jack-O-Bonnie. "But how can you do it?"
"Springtrap. He made us the devices that allow us to travel between realms. If anyone can make my vision come true, it's him," said Nightmarionne. "Question is, will you all follow me?"
"If Nightmare approved, then we're with you," said Nightmare BB.
"NO!" Nightmarionne roared.
On cue, lightning struck from above. Nightmarionne's outburst silences the Nightmares as he eyes every single one of them with a scary dark look in his eyes.
"Not for Nightmare!" Nightmarionne said. "We will do this in my name! Our names! Not for him! To transcend means not only to evolve, but to also think beyond our former master's vision. Nightmare fell before our enemies. We will honor his sacrifice, but we must also take this war into our own hands. For the glory of the Nightmare Realm!"
"For the glory of the Nightmare Realm!" All the Nightmare Animatronics repeated with menace in their voices.
"Ahem," someone interrupted.
"What is it?" Nightmarionne responded.
The interrupter is a bunny animatronic. It is a Shadow Animatronic. All black in color and blending in with the shadows. Its eyes and teeth glowed a spooky white. He is holding one of the inter-realm teleporters that Springtrap made for the Nightmare Animatronics.
"Who are you?" asked Nightmare Freddy.
"Plushtrap was vanquished by Circus Baby, so I required a new spy," said Nightmarionne. "Shadow Bonnie here was kind enough to accept my invitation."
"Actually, my name is RXQ, which is short for RWQFSFASXC," said RXQ. "Pronounce it. I dare ya."
"Uh... R-Q-Ruwi-fax?" Nightmare BB tried.
"Rubik's Fix," Nightmare Foxy tried.
"Quilt-Fat-Six," Nightmare Mangle tried.
RXQ just laughed at the Nightmare Animatronics' failed attempts. He loved it when people pronounced his name wrong. One would think he'd be mad about that, but he's not.
"Enough," said Nightmarionne. "Shadow Bonnie, why are you here?"
"I came here to tell you that the Phantom Animatronics are closing in on the Original Four," said RXQ. "Also, my brother Shadow Freddy is now on The Puppet's side. She's on her way to the mountains as we speak."
"Nightmare Freddy, Nightmare Bonnie, Nightmare Chica, Nightmare Foxy, the four of you shall go to the mountains and make sure Fazbear and his friends are untouched," Nightmarionne ordered. "Shadow Bonnie, distract The Puppet. Unleash chaos."
"Ooh, I love that," said RXQ.
The Puppet has a party. She has Golden Freddy, Shadow Freddy, and Lefty. But the Nightmare Animatronics have a new face on their side as well - Shadow Bonnie.
...
Notes/Explanations:
1. I thought about whether I should refer to Shadow Bonnie as "Shadow Bonnie" or "RXQ." In the end, I chose "RXQ," because he's just way too different from Shadow Freddy. But he did refer to Shadow Freddy as "brother," so there's that.
2. I realize that the pacing of the story is speeding up a little bit after the first ten chapters, but that's because I'm writing this story based on an outline I drew for myself. The outline reminds me of what plot each chapter brings. I don't know if I could've shortened the plot of the first ten chapters with the Original Four, but I'm too far into this story to change it. I still hope this is an entertaining read.